Complete Guide for Teachers using Google Slides in the Classroom

 

Here’s a complete guide for teachers using Google Slides in the classroom, designed to help both beginners and experienced educators maximize its potential.

---

If you are unsure of what you need, first read: What skills and equipment do I need to Use Google Slides?

Easy Lesson Planning

Classroom Teaching Tips to Create Easy and Effective Lesson Plans

Lesson planning allows a teacher to prepare proper questions and objectives ahead of time. Lesson planning should be quick and effective. How do you write a lesson plan? A lesson plan has a few key elements. Included with a general summary, are goals, materials, samples, steps to completion, and review. Lesson plans do not have to be elaborate. The internet can be a valuable resource for lesson plans.

You can find lesson plans on almost any subject for any grade level. The problem is actually using them in a real classroom. When most teachers think lesson plans on the internet, they really are thinking lesson resources as opposed to actual plans. Since every teacher has a different slant to what a lesson plan should be, take the resources and adapt it to your classroom situation. There are many types of lesson planning guides, but we'll go over one that is typical.

Three things that should be included in every lesson you plan are: What am I going to teach? How am I going to teach it? What will I do for the students who don't get it?

How do I do go about creating a lesson plan?

Sample Lesson Plan Template

This sample has 4 parts:
1) Grab the studens attention.
2) Introduce and model the material in an engaging way.
3) Guided practice.
4) Assess.

First, you need to introduce the topic in a way that gets students interested. Asking a question about the subject, what they know, etc. Anything that you can do to at least get students ready to learn. Next, introduce the material. This can you or them reading, discussing, or leading the class doing the activity as a group. Eventually your students need to do something on their own. They can work alone, you can assign partners, or even groups. But you must walk around the room to facilitate.

To finish, you need some type of assessment. You can do this orally by asking questions, or writing a couple of problems/questions on the board to be done individually alone. Assigning homework is now an option.

Keep the learning process flowing and consistent. Every lesson you do must be engaging. Students must be involved. Even if it's just explaining something. Get animated. Ask for questions. Look around the room. Get students to guess what comes next. Can you get the students moving? Get them out of their seats? Even you know when it will be boring. Lighten it up!

Are you doing lesson plans daily, weekly, or even monthly? Think about long term lesson planning. Teachers should do at least a weekly plan. Doing lesson plans daily is not a good way of teaching. Depending on how things go, you may have to change the plans to fit how your students are doing.

There are many places on the internet that provide lesson plans. You can even submit your own. Teachers should have a lesson plan filing system. Keep a file cabinet or box with your lesson plans in them, filed in subjects and categories. Yes, you should print out each lesson and make your own notes. If you just bookmark or save the websites to your favorites, the websites may not be there next time you look. The internet does not stand still and many sites change or go offline.

Don't think that you must do the lesson plans exactly how you find them. Many lesson plans will need to be modified by the teacher for his or her own class. It may take time for you to become an expert on creating, modifying, and implementing good lesson plans. But without them, teaching is less effective.

You probably teach the same idea over multiple days. When doing lesson planning, you may wish to make one lesson plan that will last two or more days. Teachers, especially new teachers, sometimes think they spend a lot of time doing lesson plans. The more you can plan in advance, the better.

More: How to Assign Homework

More: Backward Design Lesson Planning

More: Present the Curriculum in your Style and Personality

What is Backward Design in Lesson Planning?

 

Backward design is a method of lesson planning that starts with the end goals in mind and then works backward to create the instructional activities. Here's a stepbystep guide on how to backward design a lesson plan:

 Step 1: Identify Desired Results

 Determine the Learning Objectives: Clearly define what you want students to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of the lesson.

 Establish Essential Questions: Develop openended questions that stimulate thought and inquiry related to the learning objectives.

 Prioritize Content: Decide on the key concepts, skills, and knowledge that are most important for students to learn.

 Step 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

 Assessments: Decide how you will measure students' understanding and proficiency. This can include formative assessments (quizzes, observations, discussions) and summative assessments (tests, projects, presentations).

 Performance Tasks: Design tasks that require students to apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful ways. These should align with the learning objectives and provide clear evidence of understanding.

 Step 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

 Instructional Activities: Develop engaging and effective activities that will help students achieve the learning objectives. These could include lectures, discussions, handson activities, group work, and individual practice.

 Resources and Materials: Identify the resources and materials needed for the lesson, such as textbooks, digital tools, manipulatives, and handouts.

 Sequence of Instruction: Organize the activities in a logical sequence that builds upon prior knowledge and leads to deeper understanding.

 Example of Backward Design in Practice

 Step 1: Identify Desired Results

 Learning Objective: Students will understand the causes and effects of the American Revolution.

 Essential Questions: 

   What were the main causes of the American Revolution?

   How did the American Revolution impact different groups of people?

   What were the longterm effects of the American Revolution on the United States?

 Step 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

 Formative Assessments: 

   Quiz on key events and figures of the American Revolution.

   Class discussion on the causes of the Revolution.

   Written reflection on the impact of the Revolution on various groups.

 Summative Assessment: 

   Research project and presentation on a specific aspect of the American Revolution.

   Essay analyzing the longterm effects of the Revolution.

 Step 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

 Instructional Activities:

   Lecture and Discussion: Overview of the causes and major events of the American Revolution.

   Group Activity: Analyze primary source documents related to the Revolution.

   Interactive Timeline: Create a timeline of key events leading up to the Revolution.

   RolePlay: Simulate a debate between Patriots and Loyalists.

   Project Work: Research and present on the impact of the Revolution on different groups (e.g., Native Americans, African Americans, women).

 Resources and Materials:

   Textbook chapters on the American Revolution.

   Primary source documents (letters, speeches, articles).

   Digital tools for creating presentations and timelines.

   Art supplies for visual projects.

By using the backward design approach, you ensure that all elements of your lesson are aligned with the desired learning outcomes, leading to more focused and effective instruction.

> More Teaching Tips as Teachersindex.com